RUOPP SAYS CLARK DOING GREAT JOB

The trouble in Cape Girardeau schools isn't its superintendent, says veteran board member Pat Ruopp. The trouble lies with fellow board member Steve Wright.

Ruopp said Wednesday Wright has privately lobbied school district administrators for teacher salary increases that would put money directly into his pocket. His wife, Kathy, is a teacher.

Two other board members, Bob Fox and John Campbell, also have spouses who are employed by the district. But Fox has never voted on a salary issue, and Campbell has abstained.

Wright was unavailable Wednesday for comment on Ruopp's specific charges. In an earlier interview, Wright said he sees no conflict of interest in dealing with salary issues, because as a board member he can't personally give his wife a raise.

Ruopp disagrees.

"I have personal knowledge whereby Mr. Wright has tried to affect teacher salaries in such a way that he would most directly benefit," Ruopp said. "That is a conflict of interest."

Ruopp said Wright asked several administrators to add a column to the teacher salary schedule that would have allowed Wright's wife to move up on the schedule. The proposal didn't get anywhere, but Ruopp questions Wright's motives.

After the suggestion to add a new column was dropped, Ruopp said he and other board members received an NEA salary proposal that would give that same step on the pay schedule a $2,200 raise, nearly $1,000 more than any other end-of-column raise.

In the earlier interview, Wright said he was approached by members of both the CTA and NEA about presenting information about salary proposals directly to the board's finance committee. "I didn't see a problem," Wright said.

Again Ruopp disagrees. "This is inappropriate. Teacher organizations do not meet with committees of the board concerning salaries." Instead, he said, teacher groups are supposed to work with the district business manager.